Box adapted to contain a liquid or flowing material



Feb. 18, 1964 J. BOONE 3,121,521

BOX ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A LIQUID OR FLOWING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 18, 1964 J. BOONE' BOX ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A LIQUID 0R FLOWING MATERIAL Filed NOV. 2f1, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,121,521 BGX ADAPTED T0 QGNTAIN A LIQUID OR FLUWHNG MATERIAL Joseph Boone, Vedrin, Belgium, assignor to Eerghgracht, Ghent, Belgium Filed Nov. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 154,48 Qlaiins priority, application France Nov. 26, 1960 3 Claims. ((31. 22914) The invention relates to the sealing or confining of liquid, pasty or solid, more particularly pulverulent, rnaterials in parallelepipedic boxes provided with a fluictight lining, and formed from a tubular sheath of cardboard or the like folded flat and provided with folding lines in accordance with the folding lines of the body of the box, and with cut portions at the ends in order to form the closure tabs of the box, the said sheath containing an inner tube or lining made of sealing-tight material, for example a sheet of hot-scalable plastic material or paper, metallic foil or complex coated internally with a hot-scalable varnish or the like, the said lining possibly being open at its two ends or being of the type comprising pleats with one end welded. A lining of this kind is generally formed by folding on itself a sheet of appropriate material and hot-welding its longitudinal edges. The invention has as its object more especially to improve the sealing of the lining and to provide a more rational closore for the box.

For this purpose, the invention proposes that, at the opening of the sheath and the lining, the lining is applied against the sheath by the action of a negative pressure acting on the exterior of the sheath and through perforations provided therein, particularly at the ends of the body of the sheath and, with a view to sealing the lining, negative pressure is made to act on two substantially triangular zones of the lining which are situated in the immediate prolongation of two opposite sides of the body of the sheath, so as to displace these zones towards the exterior and flatten the end of the lining, which is then sealed in this position. The said two sides of the sheath can be deprived of closure tabs, or they can be provided with tabs which cover the said zones and which are provided with perforations arranged in a surface correspondmg to said zones.

After sealing, closure is advantageously effected by folding over a tab parallel to the sealing joint, simultaneously folding the end of the lining, then infolding the parts of the lining which project laterally, at the same time as the two tabs possibly provided on the corresponding sides of the sheath, and finally folding over the second tab parallel to the sealing joint, fixing it in position for example by gluing.

The invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the said conditioning process.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a wrapper according to the invention folded flat;

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view thereof in the unfolded position;

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view after the sealing of one end of the lining;

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view corresponding to FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an end view after the folding of the first tab;

FIGURE 6 is an end view after the folding of the projecting portions of the sealed end of the lining on the said first tab;

Patented. Feb. 18, l fi l FIGURE 7 is a partial view, similar to FIGURE 1, of a modified form of embodiment;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic general view in plan of an apparatus for carrying out the conditioning method according to the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a view on a larger scale of part of this apparatus;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of this part of the apparatus; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of embodiment of the wrapper folded on itself.

FIGURES l to 6 show the essential stages of the sealing and folding of one end of the Wrapper. These phases will be still better illustrated by the description of the way in which they are carried out by means of the apparatus according to FEGURES 8 to 10.

The flat folded wrapper blank comprises an inner lining 1 in the form of a flat tube surrounded by a sheath 2. Although shown shorter than the sheath for the sake of clarity in the drawings, the lining It will generally be of the same length and will in actual fact be in contact with the sheath over its entire periphery. At each end, the sheath is provided with two tabs 3, t projecting from the two long sides of the box which are defined between the lateral folds of the sheath and the folding lines 5, these tabs being slightly shorter than the small sides of the box situated between these tabs.

The device according to the invention comprises a magazine 6 containing the wrappers in the fiat state as shown in FIGURE 1. At the side from which the wrappers are extracted one by one, this magazine comprises an aperture 7 which has the length of the large side of the box, so that when the suction cup 3 carried by a mobile arm extracts a wrapper l, 2, the latter is forced to fold along the folding lines 5, opening into the form of a parallelepipedic body. The suction cup is given a reciprocating movement and when its arm has reached the position it, it has brought the wrapper into the position 1', 2 (FIGURE 10), and allows the wrapper thus opened to fall into the opening 9 of a jig it The latter has a double wall whose interior is perforated, the hollow between the two walls being connected to a vacuum source. The suction thus exerted on the sheath 2 applies the latter against the perforated inner wall of the jig In order to maintain the lining 1 also against the sheath under the elfect of the suction, the sheath 2 is provided with a series of perforations ill along edges forming ends of the body of the box and coincid ng With the folding line 112 of the tabs 3, 4. These perforations greatly facilitate the correct folding of the end of the lining, as will become apparent from the following description.

The jig is provided with two articulated triangular suction cups 13 which act on the corresponding zones 14 of the lining 1, between the tabs 3, 5-, while the lining is aspirated against the sheath 2, and these suction cups 13 are swung outwardly, assuming a position substantially perpendicular to the body of the box. The end of said zones of the lining is thus folded so as to extend the walls (FIGURES 3, 4) in a manner to permit hermetic sealing along the ioint 15. This folding is greatly facilitated by the fact that the suction maintains the lining along the line determined by the perforations 11. The jig is then displaced together with the box towards the right (Fi URE 8), the free end of the lining passing between guides 16 which completely flatten this end, while bringing the triangles which are subjected to the action of the suction cups 13 into a substantially horizontal position. At the same time, these guides advantageously fold the tabs 3, 4 horizontally towards the exterior (FIGURE 4) so as not to obstruct the movement of the sealing jaws of the hotsealing device 17 to w ich the box is then fed. Then i; is conducted towards a folding and gluing device 18, passing along a guide 19 which folds over the tab 3 (FIGURE 5). At 1%, glue is applied to the tab 4 while the projecting portions of the sealed end of the lining are folded over the tab 3 (Fl 6). Then second tab is folded over by a guide Eli. The boxes thus closed at one end are evacuated on a conveyor belt 21 and pass below a heating plate 22 to dry the glue. When they arrive at 2 3, the boxes are turned on themselves in a pneumatic horseshoeshaped tube 24 and deposited in a jig 15 similar to ill, in order to be subjected subsequently to the closing of the second end of the box in the same Way as the first end, butafter filling. This part of the machine can treat two boxes at a time owing to the provision of two jigs, twin filling and closing devices being also provided. Filling is carried out by a measuring charging device 26, and then the box is sealed advantageously under a vacuum at 27 and closed at 23 and 29 in a manner similar to that described for the first end of the box. The box is passed below a heating plate St? to dry the glue before the filled boxes are discharged from the apparatus.

The folding of the parts 14 of the lining as indicated in FIGURE 6 also affords the advantage that it is sufficient to cut through one of these parts to permit the easy pouring of the contents from the box. in order to facilitate pouring, the small corresponding edge of the sheath 2 can be cut away as shown at 31 in FIGURE 7, thus forming a recess which permits the adjoining part of the lining to form a pouring .iouth after the cutting-through of a corresponding part 14 of the lining.

If desired, a window 32 can be provided in one face of the sheath 2 to render the contents of the box visible if the lining 1 is transparent.

A tab 3 can be provided with a slot 33 which can be engaged by a tongue formed by incisions 34 in the tab 4, which makes it possible to close the box in a suitable manner after partial emptying.

In the example described hereinabove, the wrapper comprises only two tabs 3, 4, but it is also possible as shown in FIGURE 11 to provide two supplementary tabs 35, 36 arranged between the tabs 3, d and intended to co-operate with the triangular suction cups 13. The tabs 35, 36 advantageously are also in form of triangles, one side of which is contiguous with the body of the sheath, and they are provided with perforations 37 at least in the corners, so that the negative pressure can act through these perforations on the corresponding zones of the lining. If desired, the supplementary tabs-such as 35, 36 can be imperforate, but in that case they must be folded over towards the exterior at the opportune moment for permitting the suction cups 13 to act directly on the desired Zones of the lining.

It should be noted that at least the end parts of the lining, and particularly the parts which extend to the exterior of the body of the sheath, are independent of the sheath, against which they are applied only by the action of the negative pressure. The precision with which the perforations can be formed in the sheath ensures that the lining will be applied against the sheath at the precise places desired, which is not possible in practice by gluing and is very important when it is necessary to confine liquids or pastes. Indeed, the lining remains applied against the sheath, which itself remains applied against the jig, so that during the folding of the end of the lining no pressure can act on the product, which therefore will not tend to penetrate between the surfaces to be welded, and this guarantees perfect sealing.

It should be noted that the lining can be completely independent of the sheath, which makes it possible to achieve a perfect conditioning under vacuum. When the vacuum is produced in the lining, the latter can change its shape independently of the sheath, which, as a consequence, will not be entrained by the lining and will not be distorted, which would be unavoidable if the lining were glued to the sheath.

The jigs can be mounted in such manner that they can be given an oblique position at the moment of the filling and even up to their closure under vacuum, which is useful for packing soft materials, e.g. fish, in order to avoid the gathering on the bottom ofthe box and so provide for good preserving. To this end the jigs can be pivotally mounted at an edge of one of its ends.

It should be noted that the suction cups 13 need not be exactly riangular, it being sufilcient that they produce a suction on approximately triangular Zones. These cups can eg. be formed by pads of any desired form and provided with perforations defi an approximately triangular zone.

What I claim is:

1. A box adapted to contain liquid or flowing material, made from a blank comprising a flat folded tubular sheath having a body provided with folding lines extending longitudinally of said body and having tabs on at least two opposite sides at both ends for closing the ends and connected to said ends along transverse folding lines, a tubular lining in said sheath made of fluid retaining material and having ends projecting from the ends of said body, and perforations extending circumferentially of the body of said sheath adjacent said transverse folding lines at least at one end of said sheath, said perforations permitting suction forces exerted on said sheath during processing to be exerted on said lining also.

2. A box adapted to contain a liquid or flowing material, made from a blank comprising a fiat folded tubular sheath having a body provided with folding lines extending longitudinally of said body and having tabs at both ends for closing the ends and connected to said ends along transverse folding lines, a tubular lining in said sheath made of fluid retaining material and having ends projecting from the ends of said body, and perforations extending circumferentially of the body of said sheath adjacent said transverse folding lines at least at one end of said'sheatnsaid tabs including at least at one end of said sheath one pair of tabs of substantially triangular shape extending from two opposite sides of said sheath body and having perforations proximate their free edges, said perforations on said body and on said tabs of said sheath permitting suction forces exerted on said sheath during processing to be exerted on said lining also.

3. A box adapted to contain a liquid or flowing 1nate rial, made from a blank comprising a flat folded tubular sheath having a body provided with folding lines extending longitudinally of said body and having tabs at both ends for closing the ends and connected to said ends along transverse folding lines, a tubular lining in said sheath made of fluid retaining material and having ends projecting from the ends of said body, and perforations extending circumferentially of the body of said sheath adjacent said transverse folding lines at least at one end of said sheath, said tabs including at least at one end of said sheath two tabs extending from two opposite sides of said sheath body and being each provided with perforations defining a substantially triangular zone having one side contiguous with said body, said perforations on said body and on said tabs of said sheath permitting suction forces exerted on said sheath during processing to be exerted on said lining also.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 837,324 Mitchell Dec. 4, 1906 2,039,437 Moore May 5, 1936 2,294,964 Davidson Sept. 8, 942 2,493,337 Buttery Jan. 3, 1950 2,760,415 Hornsteiner Aug. 28, 1956 2,834,264 Ferguson May 13, 1958 2,983,421 Tarpin May 9, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 87,159 Denmark Apr. 13, 1959 98,370 Norway July 24, 1961 

1. A BOX ADAPTED TO CONTAIN LIQUID OR FLOWING MATERIAL, MADE FROM A BLANK COMPRISING A FLAT FOLDED TUBULAR SHEATH HAVING A BODY PROVIDED WITH FOLDING LINES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BODY AND HAVING TABS ON AT LEAST TWO OPPOSITE SIDES AT BOTH ENDS FOR CLOSING THE ENDS AND CONNECTED TO SAID ENDS ALONG TRANSVERSE FOLDING LINES, A TUBULAR LINING IN SAID SHEATH MADE OF FLUID RETAINING 